Retrieving voice-based content in conjunction with wireless application protocol browsing

ABSTRACT

A WAP-enabled device can request text-based and/or voice based content from a WAP Server. The WAP device communicates over a conventional wireless service provider network. This network provides a connection between the WAP device and a WAP Gateway. The WAP Gateway operates as a gateway between the wireless service provider network and the TCP/IP-based Internet. Content requests are sent from the WAP gateway to the WAP Server. When a request for voice-based content delivery is received, the WAP Server responds by sending a TCP/IP instruction to a Voice Portal Node. The Voice Portal Node is operative to establish a voice-based communication session with the WAP device. The WAP Server will transmit voice-based content to the Voice Portal Node. An audible transmission is then played over the telephone connection established between the Voice Portal Node and the WAP device in response to the request initiated by the WAP device.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 09/894,257, entitled “Retrieving Voice-Based Content inConjunction with Wireless Application Protocol Browsing,” filed Jun. 29,2001, and assigned to the same assignee as this application. Theaforementioned patent application is expressly incorporated herein, inits entirety, by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to delivering content towireless devices. More particularly, the present invention relates todelivering voice-based content over existing telephony and Internetinfrastructure thereby enabling combined voice-based and visual-basedcontent delivery to a single wireless device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) is a telecommunications industrystandard that has been developed to deliver data content to cellulartelephones and other wireless devices. WAP was developed in large partto promote uniform specifications for technology useful for developingapplications and services that operate over wireless communicationnetworks. WAP specifies an application framework and network protocolsfor wireless devices such as mobile telephones, pagers, and personaldigital assistants (PDAs).

One objective of the WAP specification is to extend mobile networkingtechnologies (such as digital data networking standards) and Internettechnologies (such as XML, URLs, scripting, and various contentformats). WAP-enabled devices have been used to deliver Internet contentand other data services to users of wireless devices. ConventionalWAP-based systems have been used to deliver text-based content towireless devices. Examples of text-based content that has been deliveredusing WAP-based systems include: email, sports scores, headlines, andnews stories.

Voice Extensible Markup Language (VXML) is another new standard directedto delivering Internet content and data so that the content and data areaccessible through voice-based devices. One objective of the VXMLstandard is to provide speech-enabled applications over the Internet.For example, VXML might be used to deliver the XML-formatted contents ofa web page in an audible format for delivery to the computer speaker ofa sight-impaired user.

Although WAP and VXML provide new ways of accessing web-basedinformation, each standard has its limitations. Typically, VXML isimplemented in applications involving speech recognition in which spokencommands are used to access information or complete transactions. Often,information in audio form is convenient, but applications are oftenlimited by the need for a limited vocabulary or by a requirement thatthe user remember arcane verbal commands. While speech recognitiontechnology is advancing, errors frequently occur.

WAP-enabled devices support the use of icons and other text-based menuselection tools to access information. For example, most WAP-enabledcellular telephones can deliver content in text-format and rudimentarygraphics. Because the WAP-enabled cellular telephone must remainportable, WAP cellular telephone displays must remain small. Hence, itis likely to remain difficult for such cellular telephones to providelarge amounts of text-based content or sophisticated graphics.

Therefore, there is a need in the art for an infrastructure that candeliver voice-based content to WAP-enabled wireless device, therebyenabling the device to deliver Internet content in an audible format.Preferably, the infrastructure will conform to a content formatstandard, such as VXML, and will enable the delivery of audible messagesto a WAP-enabled wireless device and the processing of speech commands.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention integrates components of a telephone system andexisting and new Internet components to deliver voice-based content toWireless Application Protocol (WAP) enabled wireless device, such as acellular telephone. A WAP-enabled device can request text-based and/orvoice based content from a WAP Server. The WAP device communicates overa conventional wireless service provider network using a base stationconnected to a conventional Mobile Switch. The wireless service providernetwork provides a connection between the WAP device and a WAP Gateway.The WAP Gateway operates as a gateway between the wireless serviceprovider network and the TCP/IP-based Internet. WAP data requests aresent from the WAP gateway through the Internet to the WAP Server.Requests for voice-based content can also be delivered to the WAP Serverover this path.

When a request for voice-based content delivery is received by the WAPServer, the WAP Server responds by sending a TCP/IP instruction to aVoice Portal Node. The Voice Portal Node acts as a gateway between thewireless service provider network and the TCP/IP-based Internet.

The Voice Portal Node is operative to establish a voice-basedcommunication session with the WAP device. The Voice Portal Node doesthis by using the out-bound dialing module to initiate a wirelesstelephone call to the WAP device. The call initiation request istransmitted from the Voice Portal Node to a conventional AIN CentralOffice. The Central Office routes the call from the Voice Portal Node tothe MSC. The MSC provides the necessary switching to connect the callbetween the Voice Portal Node and the WAP device.

When a telephonic connection has been established between the VoicePortal Node and the WAP device, the Voice Portal Node can provide adelivery authorization prompt to the WAP device. If the WAP deviceprovides a voice-based delivery authorization to the Voice Portal Node,the Voice Portal Node will recognize the authorization by use of thespeech recognition engine and will initiate the voice-based session.Once the voice session is begun, the Voice Portal Node will notify theWAP Server that the WAP device is ready for voice-based contentdelivery. The WAP Server will transmit voice-based content to the VoicePortal Node for delivery to the WAP device. The voice-based content isthen delivered as an audible message played over the telephoneconnection established between the Voice Portal Node and the WAP device.Thus, voice-based content associated with the WAP-based content isdelivered to the WAP device in response to a request initiated by theWAP device.

The various aspects of the present invention may be more clearlyunderstood and appreciated from a review of the following detaileddescription of the disclosed embodiments and by reference to thedrawings and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram depicting a conventional wireless applicationprotocol content-delivery system.

FIG. 2 depicts a conventional cellular telephone Wireless ApplicationProtocol device displaying Wireless Application Protocol information.

FIG. 3 depicts a conventional cellular telephone Wireless ApplicationProtocol device displaying a page of Wireless Application Protocolcontent.

FIG. 4 depicts two cellular telephone Wireless Application Protocoldevices that are exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 5 depicts two cellular telephone Wireless Application Protocoldevices that are exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 6 depicts a voice and data content-delivery system that is anexemplary embodiment of present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart depicting an exemplary method for providing voiceand text-based content to a Wireless Application Protocol device.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram depicting an alternative embodiment of thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is a block diagram depicting a conventional Wireless ApplicationProtocol (WAP) content-delivery system. Using a WAP device such as acellular telephone 100, a user can contact a WAP Gateway 102 via awireless service provider system 104. Typically, the cellular telephone100 will communicate directly with a base station 106 that is connectedthrough a Mobile Switching Center (MSC) 108 to a WAP Gateway 102. TheWAP Gateway 102 will receive instructions from the cellular telephone100 and will provide content to the cellular telephone, in response tothose instructions. Typically, the data link between the MSC 108 and theWAP Gateway 102 will be a data-only connection 110. That is,instructions will be sent from the cellular telephone 100 to the WAPGateway 102 in a data channel. Likewise, content will be delivered fromthe WAP Gateway 102 to the cellular telephone 100 over a data channel,not a voice channel.

The WAP Gateway 102 retrieves content from a WAP Server 112 by sendingcontent requests over the Internet 114. The WAP data can be sent fromthe WAP Server 112 to the WAP Gateway 102 in various formats (e.g.,Hypertext Markup Language), but would preferably be provided in WirelessMarkup Language (WML). The WAP Gateway 102 and the WAP Server 112 cancommunicate by Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP).Communications between the WAP Gateway 102 and the WAP Server 112 can bechanneled through a firewall 118. The firewall 118 is a well-knownsecurity device for protecting a server or other network component fromunauthorized access via the Internet 114.

The WAP Server has a portal database 122 to which it can be connectedover communications channel 116. The portal database 122 may store thecontent that is used by the WAP Server to provide content to the WAPGateway 102. The WAP Server 112 can be connected to the portal database122 over a data link 116. The data link 116 can be a TCP/IP connection,a hardwire connection, or a local area network connection. Of course,the portal database could also be integrated into the WAP Server 112.Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the WAP Server 112 couldbe used to provide content to WAP devices from various WAP portals. Insuch a case, the WAP Server may have more than one portal database 122.The desired portal can be identified initially by the WAP device 100 ina domain name format. For example, the WAP device may submit a domainname 120 that identifies a “BellSouth” portal. The domain name 120 mayalso include an indication that the WAP device 120 is requesting WAPcontent. In the example of FIG. 1, the domain name includes thisindication as “/wap”.

The WAP Server 112 may obtain raw content from the portal database 122and compile the data into WML pages that are formatted specifically fora particular WAP device's display. For example, the request from thecellular telephone 100 through the WAP Gateway 102 may include a deviceidentifier that can be used by the WAP Server 112 to determine thedisplay capabilities of the WAP device. Once the server has packaged theWML content, it transmits the content over the Internet 114 to the WAPGateway 102. The WAP Gateway 102 converts the packaged WAP content intoa form that can be transmitted over the infrastructure of the wirelessservice provider 104 and transmits that content to the WAP device 100via MSC 108 and base station 106.

The conventional WAP infrastructure depicted in FIG. 1 provides contentto the WAP device 100 in a text-based format. The WAP device 100 can beused to enter a portal domain name 120 to establish a WAP communicationsession with the WAP Server 112. Once the WAP session is begun, the WAPdevice 100 can be used to traverse a menu provided by the WAP Server 112and to request content that is identified in that menu. Once the contenthas been identified by the WAP device 100, the WAP Server 112 canprovide the requested content in the form of WML pages. The pages aredisplayed on the WAP device's display. The user of the WAP device 100can “browse” from page to page by pressing a predetermined key on theWAP device 100. Each key press may send a request to the WAP Server 112for the next page of content. Alternatively, the WAP device 100 mayinclude a memory buffer that permits the storage of multiple pages ofWAP content that can be browsed without requiring single page requeststo be sent to the WAP Server 112. While the conventional WAP device isideal for menu navigation, the presentation of content is hampered bythe limited ability of the WAP device to visually present content to auser.

FIG. 2 depicts a conventional cellular telephone WAP device 200 that hasWAP information on its display 202. The WAP device 200 can be used todisplay a menu structure 204. By using a selection key 206, a user ofthe WAP device 200 can select menu items from the menu 204 for which theuser would like to see WAP content. Once selected, the user can press apredefined submission button 208 to submit the request to the WAP Server(not shown). In the example of FIG. 2, the submission key 208 is labeled“OK” and corresponds to a submission message 210 on the display 202.

FIG. 3 depicts a conventional cellular telephone WAP device 300displaying a page of WAP content. The display 302 of the WAP device 300is displaying a second page of a menu structure provided by the WAPServer (not shown). In the example of FIG. 3, the menu page presented onthe display 302 is provided in response to the selection of the “News”menu item from the menu page depicted in FIG. 2. The menu structure 304provides three menu items. The selection of one of the menu items canresult in the display of one or more headlines. The selection button 306and the submission button 308 of the WAP device 300 could be used toselect a headline. The selection of the headline would be sent back tothe WAP Server (not shown) as a WAP content request. The WAP Serverwould return the associated WAP content (i.e., the news story) to theWAP device 300. The WAP device 300 would then display the WAP content onthe WAP device's display 302.

FIG. 4 depicts two cellular telephone WAP devices that are exemplaryembodiments of the present invention. The first WAP device 400 isdisplaying three headlines that are provided, in response to theselection of the “U.S.” menu item, as described in connection with FIG.3. A particular headline can be selected by use of the selection key404. In the conventional WAP-enabled cellular telephone, the selectionof a headline would result in the delivery of WAP content to thecellular telephone. However, the WAP device 400 of an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention can receive text-based content aswell as voice-based content. The voice-based content will be deliveredto the WAP device 400, in response to the selection of the “Listen” menuitem 406. Alternatively, the “Back” menu item 408 can be selected tomove back one level in the menu structure.

If the Listen menu item 406 is selected, the WAP device 400 will send arequest for voice-based content to the WAP Server through the WAPGateway (not shown). When the Listen menu item is selected, the displaywill show a “STANDBY: NOW RETRIEVING VOICE CONTENT” message as shown onthe display 452 of the WAP device 450. Those skilled in the art willappreciate that the data session need not end in response to thecommencement of the voice session. An alternative embodiment of thepresent invention enables the simultaneous delivery of voice and datasessions. This embodiment will be described in more detail in connectionwith FIG. 8.

FIG. 5 depicts two cellular telephone WAP devices 500, 550 that areexemplary embodiments of the present invention. The cellular telephone500 is shown with the “Data Session Ended” message on the display 502.However, the cellular telephone 500 has received a voice-basedcommunication from the WAP Server (not shown). The voice-basedcommunication is referred to as a voice session. The voice-based contentrequested will be delivered to the cellular telephone 500, when thecellular telephone user responds to a delivery prompt. As describedabove, the Voice Portal Node establishes a voice-connection with thecellular telephone 500, thereby enabling the delivery of the voice-basedcontent. The Voice Portal Node makes an out-bound call to the cellulartelephone 500 using the cellular telephone's directory number that isprovided by the WAP Gateway.

In the example of FIG. 5, the cellular telephone 500 prompts the user byplaying an audible message “to hear requested information, say ‘go’”502. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the delivery promptcould be text-based and the delivery authorization could be a key press,rather than an audible command. If the user issues the deliveryauthorization, the cellular telephone 550 will begin delivery of thevoice-based content 552.

FIG. 6 depicts a voice and data content delivery system that is anexemplary embodiment of the present invention. As described inconnection with FIGS. 1-5, a WAP device 600 can request text-based datafrom a WAP Server 612. The WAP device 600 communicates over the wirelessservice provider network 604, using base station 606 which is connectedto an MSC 608. The wireless service provider network 604 provides aconnection between the WAP device 600 and a WAP Gateway 602. The WAPGateway 602 acts as a gateway between the wireless service providernetwork and the TCP/IP-based Internet 614. WAP data requests are sentfrom the WAP gateway 602 through the Internet 614 to the WAP Server 612.In addition, requests for voice-based content can also be delivered tothe WAP Server 612 over this path.

When a request for voice-based content delivery is received by the WAPServer 612, it responds by sending a TCP/IP instruction to a VoicePortal Node 626 over a communication link 650. The Voice Portal Node 626acts as a gateway between the wireless service provider network and theTCP/IP-based Internet 614. An exemplary Voice Portal Node has four maincomponents: a) a VXML interpreter; b) a text-to-speech module; c) aspeech recognition engine; and d) a out-bound dialing module. The VoicePortal Node 626 can establish a voice-based communication session withthe WAP device 600 by using the dialing module to initiate a wirelesstelephone call to the WAP device 600. The WAP Gateway 602 passes adirectory number of the WAP device 600 to the Voice Portal Node 626 aspart of the TCP/IP instruction. The call initiation request istransmitted from the Voice Portal Node 626 to a conventional AdvancedIntelligent Network central office 626. The central office 628 routesthe call from the Voice Portal Node 626 to the MSC 604. The MSC 608provides the necessary switching to connect the call between the VoicePortal Node 626 and the WAP device 600.

Once the call has been established between the Voice Portal Node 626 andthe WAP device 600, the Voice Portal Node can provide a deliveryauthorization prompt to the WAP device 600. If the WAP device provides avoice-based delivery authorization to the Voice Portal Node 626, theVoice Portal Node will initiate the voice-based session.

Once the voice session is begun, the Voice Portal Node 626 will notifythe WAP Server 612 that the WAP device 600 is ready for voice-basedcontent delivery. The Voice Portal Node will request voice-basedcontent. The WAP Server will transmit voice-based content to the VoicePortal Node 626 for delivery to the WAP device 600. In an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention, the voice-based content will betransmitted from the WAP Server 612 to the Voice Portal Node in VoiceExtensible Markup Language (VXML). The Voice Portal Node uses the VXMLinterpreter to receive the voice-based content and then uses thetext-to-speech module to convert the received content to an audiblemessage. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that virtually anydata format could be used to transmit the voice content between the WAPServer 612 and the Voice Portal Node 626. The Voice Portal Node 626converts the VXML voice data to an audible transmission. The audibletransmission is then played back over the telephone connectionestablished between the Voice Portal Node 626 and the WAP device 600.Thus, voice-based content is delivered to the WAP device 600 in responseto a request initiated by the WAP device.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart depicting an exemplary method for providing voiceand text-based content to a WAP device. The method starts at step 700and proceeds to step 702. At step 702, a request for WAP data isreceived. The method then proceeds to step 704, wherein a WAP datarequest is transmitted to a WAP Gateway. The WAP data request includesthe telephone number (directory number) of the WAP device that hasgenerated the data request. The method proceeds from step 704 to step706. At step 706, the WAP Server is contacted and a WAP session isestablished. The method then proceeds to step 708.

At step 708, a two-way transmission (data session) is establishedbetween the cellular device and the WAP Server. The method proceeds fromstep 708 to decision block 710. At decision block 710, a determinationis made as to whether voice content is requested. If voice content isnot requested, the method branches to decision block 740 (via connectorA). At decision block 740, a determination is made as to whether the WAPsession is terminated. For example, the WAP session may be terminated bythe selection of a menu item ending the data session. If the datasession is terminated, the method branches to step 736 and ends. If thedata session is not terminated, the method branches to step 708 and twoway data transmission is continued between the cellular device and theWAP Server.

Returning now to decision block 710, if a determination is made thatvoice content has been requested, the method branches to step 712. Atstep 712, a voice-based content request is sent to the WAP Gateway. Themethod then proceeds to step 714. At step 714, the voice content requestis submitted to the WAP Server. The method then proceeds to step 716,wherein a call is placed to the cellular device. As discussed above inconnection with FIG. 6, this step may be performed by a Voice PortalNode using the cellular device's directory number obtained from the WAPGateway.

The method then proceeds to decision block 718. At decision block 718, adetermination is made as to whether the call is accepted. If the call isnot accepted, the method branches to step 720. At step 720, an alert istransmitted to the cellular device indicating that the voice-basedcontent cannot be delivered. The method then branches to decision block740 and proceeds as described above.

Returning now to decision block 718, if a determination is made that thecall is accepted, the method branches to step 722. At step 722, a promptis provided for authorization to deliver voice content to the cellulardevice. The method then proceeds to decision block 724. At decisionblock 724, a determination is made whether a delivery authorization isreceived before some predefined time out period. If a determination ismade that the authorization was not received, the method branches todecision block 740 and proceeds as described above. If, on the otherhand, a determination is made at decision block 724 that authorizationhas been received, the method branches to step 726.

At step 726, the Voice Portal Node retrieves the voice content from theWAP server and delivers the voice content to the cellular device. Thisstep 726 may include a conversion step in which, for example, VXML-baseddata is translated to an audible transmission. The method then proceedsto decision block 728. At decision block 728, a determination is made asto whether there is a queued content request. That is, a determinationis made as to whether the user of the cellular device has requested thedelivery of voice content in addition to the voice content delivered instep 726. If a queued voice content request exists, the method branchesback to step 726 and that voice content is delivered. This loop can becontinued as long as voice content requests are queued. If adetermination is made at step 728 that no voice content requests arequeued, the method branches to step 730.

At step 730, the wireless connection is terminated between the VoicePortal Node and the cellular device. The method proceeds from step 730to decision block 732. At decision block 732, a determination is made asto whether any data content requests are queued. That is, adetermination is made as to whether the cellular device user hasrequested the delivery of additional data content. If a determination ismade that additional data content has been requested, the methodbranches to step 710 and proceeds as described above. If, on the otherhand, a determination is made that no further data content has beenrequested, the method branches from decision block 732 to step 734. Atstep 734, the connection between the cellular device and the WAP Gatewayis terminated. In an alternative embodiment, step 734 may be conditionedon a determination that the user has affirmatively requested thetermination of the connection between the cellular device and the WAPGateway. The method branches from step 734 to step 736 and ends.

In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, both voice-basedand WAP-based content can be delivered to the WAP device simultaneously.In this embodiment, the WAP session is not ended, prior to theinitiation of the voice session. Consequently, the user of the WAPdevice can listen to voice-based content and then navigate a WAP-basedmenu structure to find other voice-based content that can be delivered.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram depicting an alternative embodiment of thepresent invention. In this embodiment, the WAP device 800 can be used torequest delivery of content through other means. For example, the WAPdevice 800 could be used to request that content be delivered to anemail address. The WAP Server 812 could request the entry of the emailaddress, via the WAP device keypad. Alternatively, the WAP Server couldmaintain an email address for each WAP device in an email profile 852maintained in the portal database 822. In either case, the WAP Servercould be equipped with an email server 854 that functions to routeemail-versions of the WAP content to one or more email addressesidentified by the WAP device user or by the WAP device's email profile852.

The content could then be delivered to the entered email address. Ofcourse, the email profile 852 could maintain an address book for a WAPdevice user and could permit the user to email content to various emailaddresses. An email recipient could be identified through the use of amenu on the WAP device's display or through a spoken command.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the same technique couldbe used to deliver the content to other delivery points, including, butnot limited to, a physical street address.

Although the present invention has been described in connection withvarious exemplary embodiments, those of ordinary skill in the art willunderstand that many modifications can be made thereto within the scopeof the claims that follow. Accordingly, it is not intended that thescope of the invention in any way be limited by the above description,but instead be determined entirely by reference to the claims thatfollow.

1. A wireless device for receiving voice-based content sent to a user ofthe wireless device from a Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) system,the wireless device operative to: send a voice-based content request toa WAP server; connect to a Voice Portal Node instructed to establish aconnection with the wireless device in response to sending thevoice-based content request; receive a wireless telephone call from theVoice Portal Node wherein the Voice Portal Node comprises an out-bounddialing module operative to initiate the call to the wireless device, inresponse to receiving instructions from the WAP server to establish theconnection between the wireless device and the Voice Portal Node; andreceive voice-based content provided by the WAP server over theconnection.
 2. The wireless device of claim 1, wherein the wirelessdevice sends the voice-based content request to the WAP Server via a WAPGateway.
 3. The wireless device of claim 1, wherein the WAP Server sendsthe instructions to the Voice Portal Node via a WAP Gateway to establisha connection between the wireless device and the Voice Portal Node. 4.The wireless device of claim 1, wherein the wireless device receives adelivery authorization voice prompt from the Voice Portal Node forauthorization to deliver voice-based content to the wireless device. 5.The wireless device of claim 2, wherein the Voice Portal Node comprisesa gateway between a wireless service provider network and a TCP/IP basedInternet.
 6. The wireless device of claim 1, wherein the voice-basedcontent received at the wireless device is received from the VoicePortal Node further operative to receive the voice-based content fromthe WAP Server and to deliver the voice-based content to the wirelessdevice.
 7. The wireless device of claim 6, wherein the voice-basedcontent is received at the Voice Portal Node in Voice Extensible MarkupLanguage (VXML) format.
 8. The wireless device of claim 7, furtheroperative to receive an audio message from the Voice Portal Node whereinthe Voice Portal Node is further operative to convert the voice-basedcontent in VXML format received from the WAP Server to an audio messageand to deliver the audio message to the wireless device.
 9. The wirelessdevice of claim 1, wherein the WAP Server is further operative to sendan email message containing the voice-based content to an email address.10. The wireless device of claim 1, wherein the wireless device isfurther operative to simultaneously receive voice-based and text-basedcontent simultaneously provided by the WAP Server.
 11. A method forreceiving voice-based content and text-based content from a WirelessApplication Protocol (WAP) server, the method comprising: sending acontent request to the WAP server; connecting to the WAP Server over aWAP-based connection established by a Voice Portal Node in response tothe content request; receiving wireless telephone call from the VoicePortal Node, the Voice Portal Node comprising an out-bound dialingmodule operative to initiate the wireless telephone call to a WAP deviceto establish a telephonic connection between the WAP device and theVoice Portal Node; receiving the voice-based content at the WAP devicefrom the WAP server over the telephonic connection; and presenting thevoice-based content to a user of the WAP device.
 12. The method of claim11, further comprising sending a user instruction over the telephonicconnection to modify reception of the voice-based content.
 13. Themethod of claim 11, wherein receiving the voice-based content at the WAPdevice comprises receiving an audible message translated from a VoiceExtensible Markup Language (VXML) format prior to receiving thevoice-based content at the WAP device over the telephonic connection.14. The method of claim 11, further comprising sending an audible voiceuser instruction wherein the audible voice user instruction istranslated to a Voice Extensible Markup Language (VXML) format fordelivery to the WAP Server.
 15. The method of claim 11, furthercomprising: accessing a WAP-enabled web site associated with the WAPServer; and transmitting the content request to the WAP Server, via theWAP-enabled web site.
 16. The method of claim 13, wherein presenting thevoice-based content to the user comprises playing the audio message viathe wireless device.
 17. A computer program product comprising acomputer-readable medium having control logic stored therein for causinga Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) device to receive and presentvoice-based content and text-based content to a user of the wirelessdevice, the control logic comprising computer-readable program code forcausing the wireless device to: send a voice-based content request to aWAP server, the voice-based content request including a directory numberof the wireless device; connect to a Voice Portal Node instructed toestablish a connection between the wireless device and the Voice PortalNode in response to sending the voice-based content request wherein theVoice Portal Node comprises an out-bound dialing module operative toinitiate a wireless telephone call to the directory number of thewireless device, in response to receiving instructions from the WAPserver to establish the connection between the wireless device and theVoice Portal Node; receive the wireless telephone call from the VoicePortal Node; and simultaneously receive the voice-based content and thetext-based content simultaneously provided by the WAP Server.
 18. Thecomputer program product of claim 17, wherein the computer-readableprogram code for causing the wireless device to receive the voice-basedcontent over the telephonic connection comprises comprisecomputer-readable program code for causing the wireless device toreceive the voice-based content in response to sending a userauthorization response to a delivery authorization voice prompt providedfrom a Voice Portal Node to the wireless device.
 19. The computerprogram product of claim 17, wherein the computer-readable program codefor causing the wireless device to send the voice-based content requestcomprises computer-readable program code for causing the wireless deviceto forward the request to the WAP server via a WAP Gateway; and whereinthe WAP Gateway communicates with the Voice Portal Node over a TransportControl Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) data channel.
 20. Thecomputer program product of claim 17, further comprisingcomputer-readable program code for causing the wireless device to send auser instruction over the connection to modify reception of thevoice-based content.